WelcomeCommunity Solar

- An Opportunity for Troy, NY –

presented by:

Transition TroySteve Andersen

transitionsteve@yahoo.com

November 22, 2013

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Today’s Agenda (1-hour total)

5 min- Introductions (Jim Welch)

15 min – High Level Description (Steve Andersen)

20 min – Community Power Network perspective (Emily Stiever, live video feed from Washington DC)

10 min – questions (Steve Andersen)

10 min – next steps (Liz Pohlmann & Steve Andersen)

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Today’s Objectives

1. To Learn about a new approach to solar for Troy

2. To get a sense for possible interest to implement this approach

3. To identify specific next stepsa) Is there interest to pursue ?

b) If ‘yes’, identify volunteers

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What Stops People From Going Solar?

• Perceived High Cost• Technical Complexity• Not Enough Time to Figure it All Out

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Community Solar Goals

• Reduce price of solar installations• Screen vendor proposals to offer a few sets of well

designed solar configurations• Increase the annual rate of solar installations

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How does Community Solar work?

• Overcomes COST: Competitive bidding and bulk purchasing discounts

• Overcomes Complex Process: Community Education and outreach

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Program Options

• Solar Photo-Voltaic (PV; electricity)

• Solar Thermal (domestic hot water)

• Ground Mounted and Roof Mounted

• Purchase and Lease; Low-interest Loans, Incentive Grants

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Different Approaches

• Solarize (from DOE)• Community Power Network (Emily)

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The Solarize Process

• Form a steering committee• Designate Project Manager• Organize volunteers• Send out a request for proposals (RFP)• Select winning proposal• Define tiered pricing structure• Public education outreach• Once an installer is chosen, begin enrollment,

conduct workshops• Enrollees contacted by selected installer 9

Enrollment

• Limited enrollment period (8 weeks)• Gather their information– There is no commitment on their part for anything– Entitles them to a free site evaluation and volume

purchase discount

• Pass their information along to installers to contact them

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Sample Components of Outreach and Education

• Solar education workshops & Q&A meetings• Neighborhood canvassing/block parties• Solar open houses/tours• Articles in the press• Radio interviews• Ads in the local papers• Posters, quarter-cards, etc.

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Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Request for Proposals (RFP)released to Installers

Review of Installer Proposals

Preliminary Public Outreach

Campaign Sign-Up Open

Systems Under Installation

Celebration

Program Review

2013 Timeline

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Base Price = $3.75/WBase Price = $3.05/W

Initial Pricing of System $19,500 

$15,860

NYSERDA Rebate (paid to installer) $1.40/W Incentive is reduced to $1.10/W

-$7,280 -7,280

Out of Pocket Cost (basis for tax credits) $12,220 

$8,580

Federal Tax Credit  30% Installation costs

-$3,666 

-$2,574

State Tax Credit  25% capped at $5,000 lifetime credit – roll over 5 yrs

-$3,055 -$2,145

Final Cost to Customer at Base Price Assuming all tax credits are realized

$5,499 $3,861

Sample numbers for a 5.2 kWroof-mounted Solar PV system in Tompkins County

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Not all participants will qualify for tax credits, please see your tax professional for specific information related to your individual tax situation.

Solar installations in Tompkins County

Solarize Tompkins SE (Caroline, Danby, Dryden) 2013 as of 21 August:•50 Solar PV contracts, 292 kW (at least 100 projected!)•26 Solar Hot Water contracts

Data from NYSERDA Powerclerk

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Solarize Madison Program Evaluation Report Page 7

Figure 2. Solar PV Installation for Madison County, New York by market sector . [ *2012-Solarize data indicates contracts signed, not completed installs.] (Source: NYSERDA Power Clerk; accessed March 5,2013)

According to NYSERDA, by the close of 2012, Madison County had a total of 46 residential, nine commercial and one government solar PV systems completed for a total of 421.5 kilowatts of solar. In 2012, Solarize Madison had 16 direct-own installations completed totaling 86.8 kilowatts and three leased systems completed totaling 19.6 kilowatts of new solar. Non-Solarize installations also increased as a result of the effort. As shown in Figures 1-3, Non-Solarize installs nearly doubled compared to the 2011 data. Solarize Madison has nine (9) solar PV systems scheduled for installation in 2013 totaling 71.0 kilowatts. Not included in the data for Madison County is a 7 kilowatts system installed in Oneida County as a result of Solarize Madison.

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Solar PV Installations by Sector in Madison County, NY 2003-2012

Residential Commercial Government

From Myers, J., J. Hart, P. Hofmeyer. 2013. Solarize Madison Pilot (2012): Program Evaluation and Lessons Learned.

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www.solarizetompkinsse.org

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www.solarizemadison.com

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Solarize Handbook

• Background on the program as it was developed in Portland with support from the DOE and others• Brief case studies of

other Solarize programs nationwide

Available at: www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/54738.pdf 18

Description of Community Power Network

by Emily Stiever via video feed from Washington, DC

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Next Steps

• Assess interest in proceeding • Identify pool of volunteers• Form Project Coordinating Committee• tbd….• tbd….

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